This pattern was originally published as Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design’s contribution to the 2020 Rose City Yarn Crawl in Portland, Oregon. The pattern is also part of the 2020 Pattern Collection: Birds of the Pacific Northwest.

In 1986, Bud Clark declared the Great Blue Heron (in the Ardeidae family) the official bird of the City of Portland. Great Blue Herons are the largest heron in North America—standing over three feet tall with a wingspan of over six feet-- and while that might make them hard to miss, you do still need to look for them. They can stand perfectly still, blending into their wetland backgrounds. Our pillow front uses the magic of shadow crochet, aka illusion crochet, to create the image of a Great Blue Heron in silhouette when looked at from the side. Viewed directly from the front though, the Heron is hidden in the striped fabric.

Yarn
(2) skeins Mountain Colors Twizzle (85% Merino Wool, 15% Silk; 240 yards/100g); shown in colorways: Harmony Brook - background color (BC) and Light Gray - foreground color (FC).

Hook
Size US 7/4.5mm, or size needed to obtain correct gauge

Notions
Darning needle
Locking Stitch Markers
Sewing needle
14” square pillow form
17” sturdy fabric square
Matching thread

Skill Level
Intermediate

Gauge
20 sts x 30 rows = 4” in unstretched Shadow Crochet

Finished Measurements
14” x 14”